Neighborhood butcher shop and restaurant Marrow opens in West Village

Marrow, a new butcher shop and restaurant in Detroit's West Village, is hoping to be not only a spot where you can pick up a nice chunk of meat to cook for dinner but also a dine-in destination so you can completely avoid cooking all together. 

Specializing in locally sourced, sustainably raised meat and produce, the new spot operates as store by day with organic, grass-fed beef, pork and chicken plus sausage, meatballs, deli meat and dry-aged cuts. Look for more unique proteins, too, such as rabbit mortadella and duck rillette. 

Executive chef Sarah Welch tells me that in the near future, Marrow, which unlocked the doors about a week ago, plans to offer daily grab-and-go sandwiches (one meaty and one veggie). As they gain their footing, they will also add daytime espresso and bar service. 

The "they" is Welch, along with general manager Amanda Franke and head butcher Nicholas Ponte. Marrow is owned by Ping Ho, who also has Royce wine bar and shop in downtown Detroit, so expect a thoughtful selection of vino here, too. Chef and restaurateur Greg Reyner (Cafe Muse in Royal Oak) is also involved, but not as an operating partner. 

The restaurant's menu showcases the potential of the individual ingredients that the shop sells. Create a custom charcuterie board by ordering meats and cheeses a la carte, $5-$10 each. Other bar-friendly starters include beef tartare, oysters and marrow toast.

Entrees range from noodles in house-made bone broth to a crispy duck quarter. Dry-aged beef that is 30 days old and counting is served with a scallion pancake, charred radish and black garlic puree. There are some vegetarian options, including two salads and a mushroom and tofu dish. 

Welch says, so far, the reception from the neighborhood has been positive. 

"Overall, I think the community is really behind us and truly understands what we are trying to do here," she said. "They seem to understand after only five days of opening that we take our food seriously, but not ourselves." 

Marrow is at 8044 Kercheval in Detroit. The shop is open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. and the restaurant serves 5-10 p.m. Mon., Wed. and Thurs. and 5-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Closed Tuesdays. 

Call (313) 652-0200 or visit marrowdetroit.com. Dinner reservations can be made through the Reserve app.

mbaetens@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @melodybaetens